By Tajeu Shadrack Nkapapa
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has effectively contested the acquittal of a former primary school teacher, who had been found not guilty of sexual offences by the trial court in 2023.
As stated by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Joseck Okumbe is now sentenced to 25 years in prison following the High Court’s acceptance of the DPP’s appeal and subsequent conviction.
“DPP, through Prosecution Counsel Ngiri Wangui, appealed the magistrate’s court decision, arguing that the magistrate’s court ignored overwhelming evidence tabled by the prosecution,” the ODPP said on an X post.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) stated that Justice Ann Ong’injo examined the evidence presented in the case, rejected Okumbe’s defence, and determined that he was well known to the victims in his capacity as their teacher.
“This court finds that the prosecution discharged its burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt. The trial magistrate’s finding is set aside. The respondent is convicted for the offence of defilement and sentenced to serve imprisonment for 25 years,” ruled Justice Ong’injo.
The Mombasa High Court determined that the prosecution successfully established that Okumbe committed sexual assault against the 10-year-old child on multiple occasions between October 12 and 19, 2020, within the school premises in Kisauni.